https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1433220650169159683

  • GnastyGnuts [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Wonder why some snakes like this one have much more "defined" (for lack of a better term) scales than others.

    • fuckwit [none/use name]
      ·
      3 years ago

      well certain snakes lack the conviction to have angular, more detailed scales

    • Dingdangdog [he/him,comrade/them]
      ·
      edit-2
      3 years ago

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeled_scales

      It's a characteristic of vipers meant as a warning display. They do look scary af too

    • FidelCashflow [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      Scales are a seperate layer than their skin. I can't really explain it well. But the scales are extra armor for their particular environment. I dunno enough veteranary medicine to know what those kinda sales correlate with but I figure it'd be

      • Alex_Jones [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        They're made with keratin like our hair and nails. I think the roughness or smoothness is part genetic and part environmental. Plus they come out smoother after shedding their skin.